Life has taken a dramatic turn for Paolo Cognetti, acclaimed writer and Strega Prize winner, known for The Eight Mountains. In early December, Cognetti was hospitalized at Milan’s Fatebenefratelli Hospital after being diagnosed with severe depression and bipolar disorder with manic episodes. Speaking to La Repubblica, Cognetti shared his descent into mental illness and his ongoing recovery. “I’m speaking out because mental disorders should no longer be a hidden shame. Healing begins with accepting who you truly are,” he said.
Cognetti recalled the day it all began: “I found a police car and an ambulance outside my house. They sedated me, and since early December, due to medication, I’ve done little more than sleep.” His hospitalization was prompted by concerns raised by friends over his erratic behavior. “In manic phases, you lose your sense of shame or money. I sent nude pictures of myself to friends and gave away large sums of money. Everyone was alarmed, fearing I might harm myself or others,” he explained.
Despite the progress, Cognetti acknowledges the path to recovery remains challenging. “For me, it will take time. I’m an anarchist at heart, but in the hospital, you must obey the doctors. They wake you at six in the morning and make you take tranquilizers. You’re alive, but it feels like you’re dead. I would have preferred to heal by climbing mountains or setting off on a journey. In a psychiatric ward, you only leave if you do exactly what the doctors expect.”
